Digital Forensics- Enclosing the Recovery and Investigation of Material Found in Digital Devices

Digital
forensics is mostly used to collect, identify, extract and analyze
evidence from computers, hard disks, mobiles, laptops and other
digital devices. This technology is implemented in civil and criminal
court cases along with different other private organizations for
internal investigations. Moreover, digital forensics has become a key
asset in addressing employee theft, particularly in banking, defense,
and IT industries. In addition, these devices are used for mobile
data recovery and crimes related to cloud computing. With the
continuous advancements in forensic technology, investigators are
able to collect and analyze clear and accurate data across multiple
devices. Rapid advances introduced in forensic technology that enable
recovery of complex data from electronic devices, fingerprints from
metals, and DNA profiling, together with decreasing costs over a
period of time, have made forensic applications more affordable. As a
result, digital forensics technology has successfully forayed into
major markets across the globe.

Law
enforcement agencies are the most active users of digital forensic
tools. They seek the help of such advanced equipment to detect crimes
and provide proof of investigations in the courts of law. Moreover,
due to the advances introduced in the technology recently, digital
forensics is also used across the corporate sector, banking, and IT
companies to detect possible thefts. Due to the increasing incidence
of cybercrime and confidentiality issues around the world,
technologies that provide foolproof ways of detecting crimes are in
great demand. Hence, it is expected that the demand for digital
forensics will remain high over the forthcoming years, as authorities
around the world become more conscious about protecting their
valuable data.

Digital
forensic technology plays an integral role in preventing internet
related crimes and misuse of company data. Moreover, cyber crime is
accelerating at an alarming rate and digital forensics acts as an
essential element that has the power to encumber the progress of such
criminals. Due to increasing security concerns across different
verticals, such as law enforcement, defense, banking, health care,
information technology, education, and logistics, among others, the
market for digital forensics is witnessing substantial growth
currently. In addition, due to rapid advancements in forensic
technology, such as the ability to recover complex data from
electronic devices, fingerprint recovery from metals, and DNA
profiling, prices of forensic tools have reduced, which in turn has
increased the affordability of forensic applications along with their
market penetration. Considering all these factors, the global digital
forensics market is expected to grow at a potential rate during the
forecast period from 2015 to 2021. Economic growth in emerging
markets is expected to create growth opportunities in the global
digital forensics market, but factors such as the increasing
complexity of mobile devices and the persistent threat of government
snooping are predicted to hamper the growth of the global digital
forensics market in the years to come.

The
Future of the Global Digital Forensics Market Shaped by Technological
Advances

Due
to rapid advancements in forensic technology, such as the ability to
recover fingerprints from metals or complex data from electronic
devices and conduct DNA profiling activities, digital forensic
techniques are growing rapidly across the globe. The global digital
forensics market is expected to reach US$4.97 billion by 2021 from
US$2.03 billion in 2014. Rising confidentiality issues in various
sectors and growing cyber crimes are the primary growth drivers of
the digital forensics market. Owing to these factors, the market is
expected to rise at a CAGR of 12.5% between 2015 and 2021.

In
the near future, digital forensic tools would also be used in
education, healthcare, transport, and other application areas due to
the rapid research and development activities on this technology.
Future forensic tools would find abundant potential in mobile data
recovery applications related to cloud computing, leading to better
analysis and coordinated detection.

Role
of Digital Forensics in Corporate Organizations Becoming Increasingly
Prominent

Digital
forensics has become a significant asset in addressing employee
theft, especially in data-sensitive areas of applications such as
defense, banking, and IT. It has become prevalent because most law
enforcement agencies in the world understand that modern life
includes a variety of digital devices that can be exploited for
criminal activities. Stakeholders and law enforcement agencies have
been using digital forensic tools to support investigations in court
cases and reduce crime rates.

Many
other technical jobs and roles in the data recovery and computer
forensics industry also find the need for digital forensics. For
instance, digital forensic techniques are applied in police
subcontract work for viewing child abuse images in child abuse/child
pornography cases. Similarly, many forensics firms engaged in
forensic investigation work are seeking to find solutions for data
theft, misuse of confidential data and inappropriate use of the
internet in various industrial areas.